If they’re not careful, trade journalists like me can begin to operate in a bubble. From their desks, they research and write about what’s happening on the business-to-business side of their industry, losing touch with the business-to-consumer side. Good reporters will prevent this by getting out often and talking face-to-face … Continue reading
Every year, as the calendar page turns, a bright, shiny New Year arrives and along with it comes a plethora of online, magazine, and newspaper articles on how to improve your health and lose weight in the coming year. Culturally, we go… Continue reading
Across the country, a ground-level appreciation for tea is growing, partly due to the availability of higher-quality teas at a range of retailers, including a growing roster of specialty tea shops. Many of the most successful of these specialty tea businesses seem to be doing it more or less on … Continue reading
You can meet the funniest people on a Specialty Tea Institute (STI) bus bound for International Tea Importers (ITI)! We were practically vacuum-packed into the tour bus on our way to a reception and tour at ITI’s tea offices and warehouse in Pico Rivera, California and across from me sat … Continue reading
Knowing your product isn’t good enough – you MUST “master” it (or find someone who already has). Prior to launching Tavalon, I put in about two years of preparation (visiting tea farms/houses/salons/bars/expos, got my certification from the Specialty Tea Institute, worked at local tea shops, and read pretty much every … Continue reading
Rarely can you hop on a plane from Vancouver, fly directly down the coastline to LA, and encounter nothing but transparent skies. But during a recent spectacular four-hour flight, I was treated to such awe-inspiring highlights as the volcanic chain of snow-capped peaks starting at Mt. Baker in northern Washington … Continue reading